South Asia Moves to Confront Extreme Heat

As an unprecedented El Niño strengthens across the Pacific, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan are moving together to meet the growing threat of extreme heat. 

Four new country briefs launched at the Global Heat Forum by the Global Heat Health Information Network’s South Asia Hub, hosted by CEEW in New Delhi, assess how the region is preparing and where gaps remain.

The assessments find momentum in planning, heat action plans, forecasting and early warning. 

But health surveillance, funded local action, and heat integrated into health, labour and urban planning need to catch up. 

Bangladesh has seen feels-like temperatures rise about 4.5°C since 1980 and has launched a national guideline and Narayanganj city heat plan. Bhutan is extending its strong early-warning systems to heat.

India has over 250 city and district heat action plans. A CEEW study shows 57 per cent of districts, home to nearly three-quarters of the population, face high to very high heat risk. 

Heatwaves are now a notified disaster, and more than 18,000 medical officers have been trained. Nepal’s Terai recorded 50 days above 40°C in 2024; it now has a first federal heat plan but needs better health data. 

Experts say forecasts must reliably become protection. The Hub will build a regional network and turn the assessments into pre- and post-heat-season briefings for governments.